PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Pennsylvania’s embattled attorney general is facing a retaliation lawsuit filed by career prosecutors who say she is using her office to wage a political feud over high-profile investigations and a raunchy government email ring.

The federal lawsuit filed Thursday against Attorney General Kathleen Kane also names the Philadelphia Daily News and a reporter as defendants because of articles written about the dispute.

Plaintiffs Frank Fina, Marc Costanzo and Rick Sheetz worked as prosecutors in Kane’s office before she was elected three years ago. Plaintiffs Randy Feathers and Frank Noonan were investigators for the attorney general’s office.

They accuse Kane of intimidation, retaliation and attempted blackmail.

A Kane spokesman says she hasn’t reviewed the lawsuit but will vigorously defend herself.

The newspaper company declined comment.

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This story has been corrected to show that Noonan was involved in investigations, not a prosecutor.